Central Asian Visas
 

Hi Everyone,

Next year we are planning on travelling from Bangkok to Barcelona in a Thai Tuk Tuk. We have been throughly researching possible routes, visa etc and have a fair idea of where we want to go and what we require.

We are planning on travelling from Thailand through Laos, Cambodia, north through Vietnam, through the centre of China, then up to Ulan Baator in Mongolia. From there we will cut through Russia, down through Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzebek, and into Turkmenistan.

We were originally planning on crossing the Caspian by ferry from Turkmenbashi to Baku, but some recent research has shown that in 2007 there was some difficulty getting Turkmen transit visas for those planning to exit by ferry.

Is this still true as of 2010, given the change in the political situation over there or is it still impossible to get a transit visa and exit by ferry?

Just for the record, our plan of attack for obtaining visas is:

• Thai visa arranged in Australia (home country) prior to travel, to allow us to enter on a oneway ticket and register our vehicle.
• Laos and Cambodia visas on entry.
• China visa prior to arrival obtained in Aus.
• Mongolia visa obtained in Aus.
• Double entry Russian business visa in Aus.

Then we would apply for the Kazakh visa in Mongolia, showing the Dble entry Russian visa to prove exit point. We then planned to obtain the remaining central asian visas in Kazahstan.

Any thoughts or suggestions on a better way to do this?
Cheers
Paul and Andrew.

Maybe do a bit more research/planning re the China sections...very costly:eek3: to get through there.

Have a look at the visa page on our site for info on central asia visas.

Cheers

Travel by Thai Tuk Tuk.. wow, so original and awesome ha ha!!!

Actually my buddies and I are planning a sort of similar route (on motorbikes)..
Our main concern is crossing China.. but we are going to try the ferry across the Caspian sea to Azerbaijan...

travel plans
 

HI
It sounds like a great trip - although I think the Chinese section will be very expensive as you pay by the day. I haven't crossed China myself, but last year I met quite a few travellers in Mongolia who had taken that route and it's a long one which would take quite a bit of time on a tuk tuk.

Getting the Central Asian visas in Kazakhstan - some are easier to get there but others are trickier.
Ask David at Stantours, what your options are, I know he has advised some people to get visas in Novosibirsk rather than Almaty.
STANTOURS - Central Asia Travel Resources
he is a great guy, has all the up to date info and is really helpful, and he's not just trying to get you to buy his visa service either!
And bear in mind that some visas MUST be applied for from home, which can be tricky with the Russian double entry, as it doesn't allow you much time to get get there and across- many people, myself included either used a second passport or sent our passports home while en route to get that visa

Turkmenistan should be OK for getting the visas, just need to do a bit of research, I was unlucky last year as they stopped all visas for about six weeks and I had to go around it getting the ferry from Baku to Kazakhstan and then onto Uzbekistan.
Good luck
Tiffany

:thumbup1: :thumbup1:

Hat off...

Visa
 

In Regards to the Visas :

Defiantly get the Thai one at home - It does allow you to enter on a one way ticket.
Laos - Get one in Bangkok or Chang mai if you can as then you will be issued with a 2 month visa (just make sure the paper work for the Tuk Tuk matches - I had to get my extended in the capital because i didnt.)

Cambodia - Yes you can get it on the boarder - however, if you ask for a business visa and then get your Russian LOI sent there or if you already have it, you can obtain a Russian visa in Cambodia. But you must have a business Visa - if you do not do this on the boarder, you can get it changed over once in the country.

A word of warning - the Russian LOI takes ages - I was stuck in Cambodia for 6 weeks waiting for it to arrive. What I should have done was have it sent to me while I was travelling around in Vietnam and then arrange it to be in Cambodia when I got there.

This might be of interest

Call me Ting Tong - Tuk to the Road Charity ride a Travelfish feature story

Stantours for Central Asian visas!
 

Just as Tiffany I have great experience with Stantours for Central Asian visas.

David and his team are very very knowledgeable and helpful.